Head coach Porter Moser and Illinois State men's basketball team were picked to finish seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll that was released Tuesday as voted on by conference media members and sports information directors.
For the first time in 15 years Wichita State was picked to win the league's men's basketball title.
The Shockers have a formidable starting lineup returning, which includes co-Preseason Player of the Year Jamar Howard. Rob Kampman, Paul Miller and Randy Burns join Howard as returning starters. Meanwhile, point guard Fridge Holman, who was injured most of 2003, had 61 assists in 13 games last year.
Coach Mark Turgeon has nine, 15, and 18 wins (plus an NIT berth last year) and is looking to become the first Shocker coach to improve in the win column in each of his first four years.
The Shockers received 24 of a possible 30 first-place tallies and 290 total points in the poll, conducted by league media and sports information directors.
Creighton, meanwhile is looking to become only the second Valley member (Cincinnati, 1958-63) to make the NCAA Tournament in six-straight seasons. The Bluejays return three starters from last year's 29-5 team and are picked second in this year's preseason poll with 254 points and four first-place votes.
Bradley is picked third in the poll, and the Braves return four starters, including co-Preseason Player of the Year Phillip Gilbert. The Braves expect a boost from Marcellus Sommerville, who is tabbed by many as the league's preseason Newcomer of the Year.
Southwest Missouri State enjoyed perhaps its best recruiting class, and the Bears are looking to improve on last year's third-place tie. SMS is picked fourth in the poll and returns four starters.
Two-time defending regular-season champ Southern Illinois is one of three league teams with a new head coach as Matt Painter takes over the coaching reigns in Carbondale. SIU has three starters back and is fifth in the poll.
UNI hasn't had a winning season since the 1996-97 campaign, but five returning starters, including pre-season pick David Gruber, hope to lift the Panthers to an upper-division finish. UNI is picked sixth.
The Redbirds narrowly edged Evansville for seventh. The Aces are coming off a year where they tied for fifth.
Drake's Tom Davis takes over for the Bulldogs as head coach, while Indiana State winds out the poll with 55 points.
2003-04 MVC Preseason All-Conference Team
Name, School, Pos., Ht., Wt., Year, Hometown (High School)
Clint Cuffle, Evansville, G/F, 6-6, 216, Sr., Riverton (Ill.) High
Phillip Gilbert, Bradley, G, 6-3, 205, Sr., East St. Louis (Ill.) High
David Gruber, UNI, F/C, 6-6, 230, Sr., Solon (Iowa) High
Jamar Howard, Wichita State, F, 6-5, 206, Jr., Shawnee Mission (Kan.) Bishop Miege Luke McDonald, Drake, G, 6-5, 215, Sr., Lubbock (Texas) Frenship High
Co-Players of the Year -- Phillip Gilbert, Bradley & Jamar Howard, Wichita State
Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) Total
1. Wichita State (24) - 290
2. Creighton (4) - 254
3. Bradley - 224
4. SMS (1) - 210
5. Southern Illinois - 200
6. UNI (1) - 135
7. Illinois State - 99
8. Evansville - 96
9. Drake - 87
10. Indiana State - 55
Preseason poll determined by league media and sports information directors
